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NEU Senior Regional Support Officer
Colombian rebel group hands in its weapons as part of peace talks
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro (centre) stands for the playing of the national anthem during a meeting with delegates of the Comuneros del Sur, a dissident faction of the National Liberation Army or ELN, to discuss ongoing peace talks in Pasto, Colombia, April 5, 2025

A REBEL group called the Commoners of the South has begun surrendering its weapons to Colombia’s government, the Defence Ministry said at the weekend.

The handover is linked to peace talks expected to lead to the group’s complete disarmament in the coming months.

The group, comprising about 250 fighters operating in Colombia’s south-western Narino province, has been in negotiations with the government since last year.

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